Protest held following the firings of 36 probationary employees at US Fish and Wildlife Northeast Service's Regional Headquarters in Hadley
HADLEY, Mass. (WWLP) – A protest was held Monday night in response to the Department of the Interior terminating probationary US Fish and Wldlife employees, including those at the Hadley office.
These recent cuts have sparked outrage and concern for the future of the department as well the livelihoods of the affectected employees. Dozens of protestors gathered near the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service's Northeast Regional Headquarters in Hadley after 36 probationary employees were let go. Many of the signs reading, 'Hands Off Hadley and 'Save the USFWS.'
'Those are the people that have been employed for less than a year, but they've been starting off in new positions. They're usually that most enthusiastic people. They're coming in with new knowledge and new excitement, and they've been let go for no cause,' said Retired US Fish and Wildlife employee, David Perkins.
It comes as the Office of Personnel Management continues to fire probationary employees as part of the Trump administration's efforts to cut wasteful spending. 'Those are the people that have been employed for less than a year, but they've been starting off in new positions. They're usually that most enthusiastic people. They're coming in with new knowledge and new excitement, and they've been let go for no cause,' expressed protest organizer and Member of Indivisible Swing Left Western Mass., Marta Lev.
The Federal workers at this location, oversee 79 wildlife refugees in 13 states from Maine to Virginia. But there's fear that this will worsen the refuge system's staffing crisis. Reports indicate that in order to hire new employees, the agency will be required to eliminate four current positions for every one new hire.
'Any reduction in forests here is going to have a significant impact on the lands that we want to preserve,' added Lev.
The organization protects endangered species, studies migratory birds from Maine to Puerto Rico, and distributes federal money to state wildlife refuges. A spokesperson for FWS tells us that they are implementing necessary reforms to ensure fiscal responsibility, operational efficiency, and government accountability.
In a statement to 22News they said, 'while we do not comment on personnel matters, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service remains committed to fulfilling our mission of conserving fish, wildlife, and natural resources for the American people.'
The Hadley office is also expected to close on August 31st if not hindered.
WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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